Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-29
EXPERIMENTAL TOWuNG.TANK ON
THE CLYDE.
HOW the Scotch Discover and Develop
new Ship.lines.

Al INV ANN w
THE CLYDE.
How the Scotch Discover and Develop
new Ship-lines.
PRACTICAL AID TO SUPPLEMENTARY ABLE BIRTH
PLACE OF THE NOVEL FEATURES OF THE THISTLE
AN EXPERIMENTAL TowNG-TANK WANTED IN THIS
COUNTRY.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING sr.p
NEW YORK, Sept o.
While travelling in Scotland last autumn. Fred.
D. owen OF Temple Court, New York city. was
very much interested in many OF the engineering
points In and around Glasgow and the CLYDE,
MADE famous by the many large ship-building
companies and yards located upon its banks. He
visited some Of the more celebrated ones in the
Immediate vicinity Of Glasgow, as Jno Eldor & Co.
ana the Messrs Denny Bros, at Dunbarton on the
clyde While at the Office OF the latter the sub
1ect OF the MayflowerGalatea race, which had Just
taken place, was brought up and discussed by one
OF the brothers and Mr.. owen.
The Scotchman said: Eve are beaten again and
rather badly, too, which indicates that the Amer-
cans have made a study OF such crarts- He then
said that he should think the American engineers
and those most interested In ship building gener-
ally would exert themselves TO study up the many
necessary points to perfect their merchant marine
as the builders had upon the Clyde, and transport
American goods in American bottoms in place OF
English-built ships. Mr.. owen replied that there
were many obstacles In the way or such needed
better showing than at present. 1t was suggested
by MI. Owen that 1t would seem but natural for
the English to apply that advice to their own
yacht models and TO study them, as II was sug-
gested We should study our merchant marine, SO
as to send over boat that would not only regain
the long sought Americas cup, but show some
new lines as In the case OF the fast English
greyhOunds.
Mr.. owen suggested to the gentleman that he
by their best architect, and experiment with
paranine model cast and cut to scale in the famous
Sd ana ge' s a
luded to. at Dumbarton on the Clyde, owned by
Messrs. Denny Bro, is said to be the most per-
water in the world for experimenting with
models Of vessels. And there is no telling what
may be the fruit OF such plant for the yachting
world. Sufce 1t TO say that few days after this
interview an article appeared in the leading Glas
gov paper stating that a company had been
EQUIP Yacht that WouIa ~ be Ciydebut AND
manned, and would challenge the best American
productions for the Americas cup. This towing
tank was built Tor the express purpose OF
EXPERIMENTING WITH MODELS OF VESSELS
which are to be built in hopes OF determining
what alterations and changes are necessary in
their lines to deveOpe the best results in effecting
saving to the owners in the ships propulsion.
IL was said on very good authority that saving
OF s. 600 on the construction OF some plans was
effected to the owner by experimenting with
paraffine model prepared to scale from the pro-
posed drawings by changing and improving the
trials in this housed sheet OF water. The plant in
question IL about $50 feet long by 20 feet in
breadth; The tank proper is 300 feet long by 20
in breadth, and has feet depth OF water. The
sides are OF masonry, with cemented walls and
bottom. The roof which covers the whole is
very low form OF the A pattern, with numerous
OF hangers the foot-paths, OF some feet. on
each side Of the way, which is about feet In
is supported a track and travelling frame or car
riage which carries the guiding arm and register
ing mechanism. This travelling steering frame,
which is drawn Dy steam-pOwer, carries the opera
tor and decately- placed lever arm that directs
and drives the model, which floats on the mirror
like surface OF the water below, and connects
with the electrical mechanism on the carriage,
which registers by pencil on cylinder carrying
piece OF ruled paper driven by clockwork the
resistance OF the model per scale which has been
adopted. The whole frame, mechanism, and
model, when adjusted, is then drawn along at
tonary engine al the end Of the building by means
the scale Of the model All resistance as to the he
by the automatic electrical device showing on the
paper diagram. The model In paraf1ne is pre-
pared from the original working scale drawing
required size Usually feet in length, and cut
fine which is necessary is heated to the fluid state
by steam heat In cauldron, and Is then carried
in pipes to the mould. When cold 1t is dressed
down, and any waste in the preparation by cut
ting out the model and subsequent shaving off as
required or suggested is all saved, together with
old models, and re-melted for future work or. use.
This rough cast Of paraf1ne, some z feet long, is
then put In machine and frame supported on a
track, which travels similar to the bed Of planer
and rapidly revolving knives cut by means OF an
indicator, which is controlled and moved to follow
the lines correctly to the scale drawing by the
and noshed y SI hand when nsbed 5e
model Is followed out so as to nave the same pro-
portiOnate displacement and water-line that the
larger vessel is to have: When all Is ready re-
peated experiments and trials narrow down by
previously collected data and known laws any de-
lects In the lines OF the sheet aoor or run OF the
nearer to perfection, according to the work and
S VI ner rule Of three by Other bui n
Repeated experiments In this wonderful
tank have given the company OF Messrs. Denny
Bros very many valuable points and tables con-
corning the lines and desirable points OF vessel
and great advantage over their neighhors To-
Gated farther up the clyde or elsewhere In Eng
Scotch beauty which has but very recently come
from that famous ship building center, now an
such experimental school, where not only new
lines and ideas are discovered but actually taken
advantage OF and embodied IN the yacht In course
mental towing tank has been proposed by some
enthusiastic officers OF our Navy and few promi-
nent gentlemen outside, but as yet no definite
steps have been taken by our Government in this
direction. 1t is plant much needed and would
save our Government and merchant marine very
country would thus keep pace with our Scotch and
English friends in search OF better and more use
full ideas In the building OF our vessels.
THE LITIGATION OVER SroTT, CROMWELL Co.'s
APFAIRS-In the equity suits OF Michael j. Muth,
OF Baltimore, against Stotu, Cromwell & Co., an
swerS have been filed by ChaS. G. EtOCt and Lillian
NJ. Woodward Mr.. St0tt, In his answer, states
that his father was invalid, partially paralyzed
and gave no attention to the business OF Stott,
Cromwell & Co., and that the business was esti-
mated to be worth $4,000, and was conveyed TO
his brother. E. Chester, as part OF his fathers APP
pOrtionment of the estate He processes his will
tngneSS to pay all debts due by himself. Mrs LII
liam N. Woodward, daughter OF Charles StOtt,
answers that she knows but little or the matters
in the suit, and has no intention OF dlSpOsng OF
any property belonging to her. She says: "There
is no disposition TO escape any legal liability for
the debts OF Chas. StOtt and desire that the
proper application should be made by this court
OF the assets of the firm OF St0tt, Cromwell Il Co.
and E. Chester StOtt, and whatever balance II any
shall then remain, for which my father would be
LIABLE l am willing to pay in such proportion as
| shall be legally payable by me"
NEW HOTEL PRoJKcT.-A large and elegant
hotel building is projected to occupy the present
site of the Parker House and adjoining buildings
at the northwest corner OF ~ street and Pennsyl-
| wanna avenue but as yet the plans have not been
definitely decided upon as the examination OF the
titles OF the several pieces OF property wanted has
| not been completed, and consequently no papers
have been signed This Is the enterprise OF Mr..
| Vorl n lta1fe eff md lov